Braintree run raises money to help families dealing with cancer

Monday

Apr 28, 2014 at 2:00 AM

Thousands of runners and walkers took to the streets of Braintree Sunday morning to remember Charlotte Rose Kelly of Braintree, who was 5 when she died of cancer in December 2011. They also walked and ran to raise money for cancer research and to help families of children with pediatric cancer.

Natalie OrnellFor The Patriot Ledger

BRAINTREE – Kyleigh Lydon, 9, handed out cups of water on Common Street in Braintree to runners taking part in the fourth annual Run for Charlotte, a race that raises money to support families of children with pediatric cancer.

She was honoring her friend Charlotte Rose Kelly of Braintree, who died of neuroblastoma – an aggressive type of cancer that usually strikes young children – in December 2011 at the age of 5.

Kyleigh, who has a rare metabolic disorder called galactosemia, will have a fundraising road race of her own in June.

Braintree Police Chief Russell Jenkins, said Kyleigh’s parents, Sean and Kristine, are two of the 35 police officers from Braintree, Quincy and Norfolk County who volunteered their time on Sunday to provide traffic control for the Run for Charlotte, which started and ended at the Granite Grill on Granite Street.

Prayers for Charlotte, a nonprofit volunteer organization, first organized the Run for Charlotte in 2011 to raise money for neuroblastoma research and to financially assist families dealing with pediatric cancer.

“We lean toward helping families,” said Patrice Kelly, Charlotte’s mother. “We give 10 to 15 percent to research. We’re trying to make good out of a tragic situation.”

The event is also about keeping memories – of Charlotte and other children – alive. About 60 photos of children who have died of cancer or are struggling with the disease had been put up along Granite Street.

Patrice Kelly said Charlotte “was my best friend. She was strong, brave and kind. She lived for the day. One thing I remember: She was going to the hospital and was crying, and then I started crying, and then she looked at me and she said: ‘If you’ll be happy, I’ll be happy.’

“I try to be happy for my boys,” Kelly said, talking about her two sons, Owen, 12, and Shane, 10, both of whom ran in the race.

Greg Kelly, Charlotte’s father and a nurse at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said people “came out in bigger numbers this year.”

“Cancer research is not quite there,” he said. “We need more treatment options. Very important that families get the treatment they need.”

The Run for Charlotte included a 10-kilometer race, a 5-kilometer race, a 5-kilometer walk, a wheelchair division and a youth division.

Robert Rantuccio, 67, of North Quincy was satisfied with his per-mile average – 8 minutes and 41 seconds – when he checked the results list.

Boston College High School student Anthony Lomasney, 13, participated in the Run for Charlotte for the third time. He described himself as an up-and-coming elite runner. He ran the 5K race, and his fastest mile was 7:29.

Anthony’s twin sister and friends, students at Braintree’s St. Francis of Assisi School, remember that Charlotte was set to attend St. Francis but became too ill. They smiled when they recalled her presence at the first race, just a few months before she died.

Lenny Mortell, a barber representing Nanci’s Barber Shop on Washington Street in Braintree Square, also handed out cups of water to the runners. He remembered Charlotte and said her brothers still come to Nanci’s for haircuts.